Sectional switch box



March 31. 1925.

' A. RYDEN SECTIONAL SWITCH Box Filed July 15. 1922 2 Sheets-Shut 1 2 Shoetshut 2 A. RYDEN SECTIONAL SWITCH BOX -Filed July 15. 1922 March 31. 1-925.

W 0 4 W m Patented Mar. '31 1925.

AXEL RYDEN, or GHICAGQ, ILLINOIS, cmoneo, rumors, A

nssronon 'ro arrnn'ron nrncrnrc ea, or CORPORATION or ILLmoIsl SECTIONAL SWITCH BOX.

Application filed July-15, 1922. Serial no. 575,342.

zen of the United Stat-es, and .a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Switch Boxes; and I do'hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 2

This invention relates. to improvements in sectional switch boxes for enclosing and supporting electrical switches and the leads thereto, wherever such switches are adapted to be used.

The invention relates more specifically to means for interlockingly connecting the units or walls of such switch boxes, and to means whereby a small number of identical units or walls can be assembled to produce unitary boxes of any desired practical lengths.

The purpose of the invention is'to'produce' interlocking means walls or units of a switch box, whether individual or sectional, which enables the set up box to be made up of a minimum number of unit pieces or elements, and which are so arranged that the said units or elements may be quickly and accurately assembled and,

I i when assembled, are rigidly locked together.

The invention. consists in the elements and combination of elements shown in the drawings and described in the specification, and is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: I

Figure l is a perspective view of a sectional switch box embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of one of the units of the box, embracing a bottom wall and two side walls made integral with each other. l

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail illustrating the interlocking means for connecting a side wall of one of the units to a companion side wall of an adjoining unit.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail illustrating the interlocking connection between an endmost associated with the simple unit of the box with one of the unit side walls.

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 5 taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Figures 8 and 9 are perspective details of the locking projections of the simple units to which refererence will be hereinafter specifically made.

A sectional switch box embodying my invention, in its simplest expression, may be said to be composed of a member of two identical units, one constituting a compound unit and the other a simple unit, and arrangeid with one of the compound; units adapted for individual or separateuse with two simple units when a simple box is to be made up, and adapted for use in multiples, and interlocked together when a longer box is to be made up, the simple units constituting the endmost members of a box of whatever length.

One of the compound units, thus broadly termed, is the unit .10 shown in horizontal section in Figure 3, it including a bottom wall 11, and two side walls, 12, 12. The whole is an integral structure and is of channel cross section. The other unit thus broadly termed comprises a plain wall 13; two of these units 13 are used in a simple box and are applied to the opposite edges of the upstanding sidewalls of the channel shaped or compound unit to enclose a simple box. hen a longer box is to be made up by edge to edge joinder of the compound units, the simple units are interlocked at their edges with parts on and intermediate the length of the end edges of the upstanding walls of the remote compound unit. Reference has thus been made to the generic elements of the box in order that the invention herein involved may be readily un derstood in the following detailed description.

Referring first to the interlocking elements of the channehshaped units of the box, each of the side walls 12 is provided at one edge, between its top and bottom, with a depression or recess 14:, the bottoms of T to, as best shown in Figure 5.

plane of said wall. The opening 16 at each depression is a plain or unthreaded opening. Extending from one edge of each side wall of the channel shaped unit, and disposed generally in the plane of said wall, are twin extensions or lugs 19, 19, separated by a notch 20. The extension 19 is a plain extension, and is located Wholly in the plane of the wall 12. The extension 19 is also principally in the plane of said wall 12, but is provided with an upwardly extending lip 21. The upper free end of the lip 21 is bent or inclined inwardly beyond the plane of said wall, being at an oblique angle there- Both said extensions 19 and 19 are plain on their endmost edges. The inner edge 22 of the lip 21 is downwardly and inwardly tapered, as best shown in Figure 6 to constitute a cam.

Each of the end units 13 is provided at and intermediate the length of one edge with a right angle lug or extension 23, formed near its lower end with a recess 24 that opens through the free edge of the lug and is formed near its upper end within its edges with an integral teat 25 formed by bending the metal of the lug inwardly. The opposite edge of each said end unit 13 is formed in its plane with an edge recess 26 l flanked at one side with an outwardly and downwardly extending hook 27, and at its other side with a rounded extension 28, having an inner flat edge portion 29 and an outer curved portion 30.

hen assembling a. box including a number of units 10, they are assembled with their bottom and side wall edges abutting together. In thus assembling the units, the extensions 19, 19 lap over the depressions or recesses 14 with the notches 2O fitting over the shanks of the screw 17, which latter have theretofore been threaded into the openings 15. When said extensions are thus assembled over the recesses, the inclined or hooked ends 21 of the extensions 19 snap into the openings 16 at the bottoms of said depressions. The screws are then turned into the holes so as to bring their heads into bearing contact with the side faces of the extensions at the sides of the recess or notch 20. The screw threaded action of the screws not only force the extensions 19, 19 against 'the bottoms of, the recesses 14 to lock the walls 12 in their planes, but also serve to force the inturned lips 21 into the openings or holes 16, and thereby lock said walls from endwise separation in their planes. In this manner, the units 10, of whatever number used in a box, are rigidly locked together to constitute the bottom and side walls of the box.

The simple end units 13 are thereafterwards applied to the outer edges of the walls 1 of the endmost units 10. To apply an end unit, it is tilted in its plane so as to engage the hook or tooth portion 27 of one end edge of said unit over the extensions 19, 19 of the wall member 12 and in the recess between the said lip 21 and the adjacent side edge of the wall member 12. Thereafter said end unit is swung down about the upper edge of said extension 19 as a pivot to bring it to its normal position, as shown at the left end of Figure 1, whereupon the upper edge 29 of the rounded extension 28 is caused to pass beneath the lower edge of the extension 19 of the side wall member 12. This adjustment is effected while the said unit 13 is inclined outwardly to its normal plane and when the right angle lug 23v is free from the edge of its adjoining wall member 12. Thereafter the latter end of said wall, bearing said lug 23, is forced inwardly to bring said lug in overlapping engagement with the adjacent depression 14 of said wall member. In thus swinging the unit 13 inwardly, the notch 24 of the lug 23 is forced over the shank of the adjacent screw 17 and the teat 25 is snapped into the opening 16 of said depression. Thereafter the screw 17 is turned home and serves to bind said parts firmly together in interlocking engagement.

It will be observed that the clamping screws 17 wherever used need not be de tached from the parts into which they are threaded but that they need to be relieved only sufiiciently from the lugs 23, and extensions 19, 19, to permit separation of the teats 25 and inclined parts of the lips 21 from the openings 16 to permit the said endmost or simple unit to be detached from the extensions 19, 19 of the endmost compound unit by tilting movement of said endmost or simple unit.

It will be furthermore observed that the inclined edge 22 of the lips 21 have the effect to act on the hook members 27 to force the adjoining ends of said units closed upon the edges of the walls 12 of the unit 10, and that the screws 17 at the ends of the box serve to hold the teats 25 interlocked with said openings 16. lVhen the screws 17 are threaded home, the sections or units of the box are rigidly held together from movement in all directions and it is only required to slightly turn back said screws to detach said sections or units one from the other.

A simple box including but a single compound unit 10 and two simple units 13 may be made up and interlocked together in the same manner as described with respect to the longer box. From what has been said, it will be observed that a box of whatever length can be made up of duplicate interchangeable units, there being only two sets of dies or molds required to produce them.

The box is shown as equipped with the usual brackets for attaching it in place and attaching a cover thereto, and also for supportingthe switching mechanism which it Said box may be is designed to enclose. supported with the cover side disposed either in lateral or vertical position, depending upon the particular location of the switch or switches enclosed therein. Reference hereinbeforemade to the vertical posi tions of the several elements of the box are therefore to be taken'as illustrative and not as limitations to the particular position of the box.

While ordinarily the screws 17 will be turned to bring'their heads 18 in contact with the members 19-19 and 23, it will be noted that the construction is such that the parts will be held from disengagement even though screws be turned backwardly to relieve the heads of such normally contacting parts.

It, is to be understood that the structural details are capable. of some variation within the scope of the appended claims, and that it is the intent to claim all of inherent novel ty shown in the drawings and expressed in the specification.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sectional switch box comprising a unit having side and bottom walls, and an end wall, one side wall having in its plane an edge extension, and said end wall having at one edge an extension in its plane to interlock with said extension of said side wall,

and having at its opposite edge a right angle member to overlap and to interlock on the outer face of the other side wall, and a clamping screw extending through said angle member and threaded into said latter side wall.

2. A sectional switch box comprising a unit having a bottom and side walls, and an end wall, one side wall having an edge extension, and said end wall having at one edge an edge extension to interlock with said extension of saidside wall, and having at its opposite edge a right angle member, said angle member being formed with an open notchand with a locking teat, the outer face of said other-side wall having a'depression to receive said right angle member, and provided with an opening to receive saidteat, and with a threaded opening to receive a clamping screw t-he shank of which engages said notch.

3. A sectional switch box comprising a unit having side and bottom walls, an end wall, one side wall having intermediate its a top and bottom an edge extension, and the other side wall an intermediate end edge depression, and said end wall having at one edge intermediate its top and bottom an extension to interlock withsaid extension of said side wall, and having at its opposite edge an intermediate right angle member to overlap and to interlock with said depression, said right angle member having a slot 1 is formed at its end with a lip opening through its edge remote from the body of the end wall, and a headed screw extending through said slot and threaded into the bottomof said depression.

4. A sectional switch box comprising a unit'having side and bottom walls, an end wall, one side wall having intermediate its top and bottom an edge extension, an intermediate end edge depression having a plain and a threaded opening, said end wall having at one end edge means to interlock with one of the side walls, and having at its opposite edge an intermediate right angle member to lie within said depression, said right angle member having a slot opening through its edge and having a teat to engage one of said openings, and a headed screw extending through said slot and of a length, when unscrewed, to release said teat from its opening before said screw is disengaged from its threaded opening.

5. A sectional switch box comprising a main unit having a bottom and side walls, and an end wall, one side wall having a slotted edge extension, and the said end wall having an edge extension adapted to interlock with the side wall extension by oblique cam means which forces said end wall against the edge of the said side wall, and the opposite edge of said end wall having a right angle lug which overlaps and is interlocked on the outer face of the other side wall of said main unit.

6 A sectional switch box including a main unit comprising a bottom and side walls, and an end wall, one of said side walls having a pair of spaced extensions, one of which spaced from the wall and inclined on its edge adjacent to the wall edge, and said end wall having a hook to engage the latter extension and a shoulder spaced therefrom to engage the other side wall extension by tilting movement of the end wall relatively to said side wall, the opposite edge of said end wall having interlocking connection with the other side wall of said main unit.

7. A sectional switch box including a series of units, each composed of a bottom wall and side walls adapted to edgewise abut,

each side wall being formed at one of its end margins with a single intermediate depres-' sion and'at its opposite edge with a like positioned two part extension to interlock with parts of the depressed side wall of an adjoining unit to hold said walls rigid rela tively to each other.

8. A sectional switch box including a series of units, each composed of a bottom wall and side walls adapted to edgewise abut, each side wall being formed at one of its margins with a depression, and the opposite edge of said side wall being provided with spaced edge extensions to receive between them a clamping member at the delltl pression of the wall of an adjoining section and provided also with an inturned lip adapted to interlockingly engage an open ing at the depression of the wall of the said adjoining section.

9. A sectional switch box including a series of units, each composed of a bottom Wall and side walls adapted to edgewise abut, each side wall being formed at one margin with a depression provided with apertures and at its opposite side with spaced edge extensions forming therebetween a notch to receive a shank threaded in one of said apertures of an adjoining side wall, one of the latter extensions being turned inwardly to engage the other aper ture in the depression of said adjoining side wall.

10. A sectional switchbox including a series of units, each composed of a bottom wall and side walls adapted to edgewise abut, each side wall being formed at one of its margins with a depression and at its opposite edge with spaced edge extensions, one of which is formed at its free end with a lip having a lateral turn, and obliquely inclined at its edge adjacent to the wall edge from which it sprin s.

11. In a sectioinl switch box, the combination with two side wall members in the same plane, one provided at its margin with a depression having a threaded and a plain aperture, and the other provided at its adjacent edge with spaced edge extensions, one of which is formed to interlock with one of the apertures at said depression, and the space between said extensions being adapted to receive the shank of a clamping screw which engages the threaded aperture of said depression.

12. In a sectional switch box, an end wall unit provided intermediate its sides at one end edge with spaced edge extensions, one of which is hook shaped and extends towards a plain face of the other extension, said unit being provided at its other end with a right angle lug.

13. In a sectional switch box, an end wall unit provided at one edge with spaced edge extensions, one of which is hook shaped, and provided at its other edge with a right angle lug formed with a notch opening through its edge, and formed within its edge with a locking teat.

14. In a sectional switch box, an end wall unit formed at one edge with spaced edge extensions adapted to interlock with edge extensions of one side wall of the box, and provided at its other edge with a lug adapted to interlock on the outer face of the opposite side wall of the box, said last interlocking connections embracing a screw threaded into said side wall, and the lug being provided with a notch to engage the shank of the screw and with a teat to engage an aperture in said last mentioned side wall.

15. A sectional switch box having walls abutting edgewise in the same plane, one having a marginal depression having bottom holes and the other having a slotted edge extension having a teat to engage one of said holes and a screw extending through said slot to engage the other of said holes.

16. A sectional switch box having edgewise abutting walls, one having at one edge a depression having respective threaded and plain bottom holes, the other wall having a slotted edge extension that lies in said depression and is provided with a teat to engage said plain hole, and a headed screw extending through said slot to engage the threaded hole, the head of the screw overlapping the extension at the sides of said slot and the engagement of said screw with said threaded hole being of a length to release said teat from its opening, in disassembling said walls, without releasing said screw from said threaded opening.

17. A sectional box having side walls and an end wall, one of the side walls being formed in its plane with a two-prong-edge extension and one edge of the end wall having a two-part extension, said extensions having co-acting cam faces which are interlocked by tilting movement of one wall relatively to the other.

In witness whereof I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 hereunto append my signature this lOth day of July, 1922.

AXEL RYDEN. 

